Highway-crossing bell for railroad service.



E. W. VOGEL.

HIGHWAY CROSSING BELL FoR RAILROAD SERVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. I9l4.

1,283,445. I Patented 00E. 29, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. W. VOGEL.

HIGHWAY CROSSING BELL FOR RAILROAD SERVICE. APPLICATION FILI-:D MAY 27. I9I4.

1,288,445.. Patented out'. 29, IIIIA.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2A l 7j. 2. *i Q y IL7fa/- WTNESSES:

EUGENE Ws VOGEL, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO RAILWAY SIGNAL AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CARPENTERSVILLE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

HIGHWAY-CROSSIN G BELL FOR RAILROAD SERT-TICE.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1913..

Application filed May 27, 1914. Serial No. 841,319.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE W. VOGEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful `Improvements in vHighway-Crossing Bells for Railroad Service, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signaling devices for railroad or like service, of a type commonly termed crossing bells; and the invention has for its object to provide a railroad crossing bell, operated by mechanism of the solenoid type, which will be simple in construction, reliable in its operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and in which the operating mechanism is completely housed vand protected against injury by rain, dust,

and the like. A further object of the invention is to provide certain novel improved arrangements whereby the ringing of the bell is accompanied by the production, automatically, of a visible signal in the form of -an intermittent or flashing light. A further object is to provide a solenoid operated signal bell which will produce a succession of loud, clear vtones following each other at appreciable intervals. A further object is to provide certain adjustments as between the contact springs for interrupting the operating circuit andthe element employed for moving said contact springs whereby the mechanism is capable of being operated by currents of varying voltages.

The invention has for further objects such other new and improvedl constructions, arrangements and devices relating to highway signal bells as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The inventionl is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings in which the figures numbered 1 and 2 are vertical sectional views taken at right angles one to the other; certain parts of the apparatus being shown diagrammatically.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in both figures of the drawings.

Referring tothe drawings, 10 designates a casing open at the top and formed at the bottom with a socket 11 for a supporting post 12, or the like. The casing is formed with a preferably integral web 13 which provides a chamber 14 entirely inclosed except for a small opening or slot 15 .in the top; the chamber 14 being intended to contain the mechanism for operating the clapper of the bell. Access to the chamber is obtained through a 'door opening 16 formed in the outer casing 10 and normally closed by a door 17 hinged to the casing at 18 and preferably provided with a gasket 19 to make the door water and dust proof. The web 13 which divides off the chamber 14, is provided with an upstanding web -or standard 2O on which the bell 21 is mounted, the bell being preferably secured tothe standard by a screw 22. The lower edge of the bell comes down close to and overlaps the casing 10 so that it covers the open top of the same. The casing is preferably provided with a door 23 which may be secured in place by screws 24. The clapper 25 is formed upon cuit 36 is adapted to be closed by any suitable mechanism, for example, by a circuit closing device actuated by the movement of the trains. The core 33 of the solenoid carries a sleeve 39 which projects through an opening 40 in the bracket 35 and is internally threaded to receive a threaded rod 39a which is held in the desired adjusted position by a `jam-nut 39b and carries on its lower end a block 41 of fiber or other insulating material. When the magnet is energized the centering of its core brings the ber block 41 against the end of the spring contact member 38 separatin this member from the contact member 3 and thereby breaking the circuit through the magnet.

Preferably the apparatus is provided with a visible signal consisting of an electric lamp, shown conventionally in Fig. 1 of the drawings, designated 42. The lamp is on a normally open circuit 43 connected to the solenoid circuit 36 and containing a spring contact member 44 which stands below but out of contact with the contact member 38 when the core of the magnet is in its upper position. Contact `member 38 is brought against the contact member 44, closing the lamp circuit, when the core 33 is drawn downwardly. It will be understood that the lamp 42 may be exposed in any suitable position with respect to the audible signaling apparatus. The spr-ing contact members 37, 38, 44-are secured to studs formedl on the adjustable plates 45, 46, 47, respectively, the studs being indicated by the common numeral 48.-

The plates are formed with arcuate slots 49- and are secured to a block 50, of slate or other non-conductingmaterial, by means of lset screws 51. lBy this arrangement the angular position of the contact members may be adjusted; The plates 45 and 47 are formed with lips 52 against which their respective contact members bear. Preferably a rubber or other resilient cushion 53 is affixed to the vertical portion of the web 13 in position to receive the clapper 25 on the rebound from the bell.

The operation of the device above de scribed is as follows When the circuit 36 1sv member 26 toward the bell bringing the clap-j per 25 into contact therewith. The fiber block 41 on the lower end of the core 1s brought against the contact member 38 separating said member from the contact member 37 so as to break thesolenoid circuit. It will be observed from Fig. 1 that in the normal position of contacts 37 and 38 the former stands away from its stop 52. As a result., during the'frst partpof the downward movement or flexing of contact 38 there will be no separation of contacts 37 and 38, the former following along after contact 38 until contact 37 reaches its stop. This allows the solenoid to be fully energized andcauses it to impart a powerful pull upon the bell clapper. In case the apparatus includes also the visible signalas shown contact member 38 toward the end of its movement meets the contact member 44 of the lamp circuit. This closes the lamp circuit and lights the lamp. With the solenoid denergized the weight -of the clapper assisted by the resiliency of spring contact 38 raises the core 33, breaking the lamp circuit and again closing the solenoid circuit. Soon after contact spring 38 begins to move or flex in the upward direction it comes against contact spring 37 and finishes its movement in contact therewith. If the solenoid were energized instantaneously this would mean that the gravity of the clapper rwould be opposed by the magnetism of the solenoid. But as a -matter of fact, the ener 'zation of the solenoidis gradual to a su cient extent to permit the clapper to assume 'substantially its original or normal osition before the magnet has pull enoug to start another active or ringing stroke of the clapper. The advantage of having contacts 37 and 38 come together early in the back .stroke of the apparatus is that in case there should be any tendency of the apparatus to stick or clog so that the parts fail to return to their normal position the apparatus is not left with an open circuit, which would make it inoperative. It is ofthe utmost importance that railway crossing signals'should be as absolutely .certain in their operation as possible. On this score the device of my invention is far more reliable than the signal bells of the type in which the circuit is closed by devices of one sort or another operated atthe end of the back stroke of the clapper. In such signal bell apparatus, exemplified in patents to Slater & Barnes, No. 461,718, Bryant, No. 1,076,481, and Vogel, No. 1,691,548, the clapper and solenoid core are likely not to have force enough to operate the circuitclosing device and these apparatuses have, therefore, proved unreliable in lactual operation. apparatus it is ossible to obtain a succession of loud c ear sounds spaced at appreciable intervals like the sounds given out by a locomotive bell without any danger of' havino the apparatus put out of operation by failure of the circuit to close on a baclc strokeof the clapper.

While I have described my invention in a preferred embodiment, modifications Amight be made Without departure from the principles of the invention. Therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the precise lconstructions and arrangements shown except sofar as the same are made specifically limitations in certain of the vclaims herein.

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing open at the top and formed with a 'chamber extending above the upper edge of the casing and entirely inclosed except for an opening in the vtop and with a standard, of a bell secured to said standard so that it extends over the open top of said casing, a'clapper pivoted to said standard, a solenoid arranged within said chamber, aconnecting rod interposed between the core of the solenoid and said clapper, a pair o f spring contacts normally an element of non-conducting material car- With my together and in circuit with the solenoid,

l Maaate ried by said solenoid core adapted, when the solenoid is energized, to be brought against one of said contact members so as to separate it from the other member, and means for adjusting the angular position o f said contact members.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a bell and a clapper therefor, of a solenoid for operating the clapper, a pair of spring Contact members normally together, angularly adjustable and in circuit with the solenoid, means comprising an element of non-conducting materia] carried by the solenoid core which is adjustable with respect thereto for separating said contacts when the solenoid is energized,

an electric lamp, a normally open circuit' therefor, and an angularly adjustable spring contact member adapted to be engaged lto close the lamp circuit when said solenoid is energized.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing open at the top and formed with a web which provides a chamber entirely inclosed except for an opening in the top and with a web forming a standard, of a bell secured to said standard so that it extends over the open top of said casing, a clapper'pivoted-to said standard, a solenoid arranged within said chamber, a connecting rod interposed between the core of the solenoid and said clapper, a pair of spring contacts normally together and in circuit with the solenoid, an element of nonfconducting material carried by said solenoid core adapted, when the solenoid is energized, to be brought against one of said contact members so as to separate it from the other member, means for adjusting the angular position of said contact members, a lamp on a normally open circuit connected with said solenoid circuit, and a contact member in said lamp circuit and arranged below and in the path of the contact member which is moved by said solenoid core so as to be engaged by said contact member.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a bell and a clapper therefor, of a solenoid having a core connected with the clapper to operate the same, means for operating the solenoid comprising an electric circuit for the solenoid and a source of electrical supply in said circuit, switch mechanism for opening and closing said circuit, an element carried by said core for actuatingthe switch mechanism, and means whereby said switch mechanism and said element for actuating the same may be adjusted to maintain said circuit closed throughout the entire movement of said core or through a portion only of said movement.

5. A railway signal bell apparatus comtet an electro-magnet, an armature for the mag net connected with the bell clapper 1n counter-balancing relation therewith, a pair of contacts in circuit with the magnet andy means associated with the armature which operates when the armature is attracted by energization of the magnet to cause said contacts to move together for a period and then to separate, said contacts adapted on the return stroke of the armature to come together and thereafter move in contact with each other toward their initial position for the purpose described.

6. A railway signal bell apparatus comprising a bell, a depending pivoted clapper, a solenoid having a core connected with the clapper in counter-balancing relation therewith, a pair of contacts in circuit with the solenoid, said core being adapted when the solenoid is energized to engage one of said contacts and move the same; one of said contacts comprising al spring, and said contacts being arranged so that during the first part of the active stroke of the apparatus and the latter part of the return stroke thereof said contacts move with one bearing upon the other.

7. A railway signal bell apparatus comprising a gong of the locomotive bell type, a clapper pivoted Within the gong, a solenoid having an armature connected with said clapper in counterbalancing relation thereto, and a pair of spring con tacts each -anchored at one end, one being flexed, in its normal position, with its free end bearing against the other, and the free end of the other extending into the path of said solenoid core so that said contact spring is bent and'subsequently separated from the other contact spring when the solenoid is energized.

8. A railway signal bell apparatus comprising a gong of the locomotive bell type,

a clapper pivoted within the gong, a solenoid having an armature connected with said clapper in counterbalancing relation therewith, a pair of spring contacts each anchored at one end, one being flexed in its normal position, with its free end bearing against the other, and the free end of the other extending into the path of said solenoid core so that said contact spring is bent and subsequently separated from the other contact spring when thesolenoid is energized, and means for adjusting the angular position of said contacts for the purpose described.

9. A railway signal bell apparatus comprising a gong of the llocomotive bell type, a clapper pivoted Within the gong, a solenoid having an armature connected with said ,clapper in counterbalancing relation thereposition, with its free end bearing against' Vides the engagement between the slenoid the other, and the free end of the other excore and the Contact spring which 1s bent tending intov thel path of said solenoid core thereby.

so that said Contact spring is bent and subse- EUGENE W. VOGEL. 5 quently separated from the other Contact Vitnesses:

spi-ing when the solenoid is energized, and G. Y. SKINNER,

an adjustable insulating device which pro- L. A. FALKENBERG. 

